Container vent



f A. SCHILLING.

CONTAINER VENT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. s. 1921.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

E 11 7 u u IIIIIIIIIIIIIS Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST SCHILLING, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CONTAINER VENT.

Application in; September e,- 1921. seriafNo. 498,80'2.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST SOHILLING, a I

citizen of the United States, residing at the .particularly coffee, it is necessary to normally maintain the package close to preserve the quality of the commodity, and it is also desirable to release from the container certain generated gases'given off by the commodity, and under other circumstances to admit into the container additional atmosphere to relieve a vacuum within the container,'and it is to accomplish these conditions that the present invention is designed,

it operating solely by a variation of pressure within the container. The invention consists primarily in a valve or diaphragm controlling a vent opening actuated by a difference in pressure within the container whereby the valve or diaphragm affords a closure for the vent, a relief for a vacuum within the container, and an escape fora pressure therefrom.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination'of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages" of the invention.

Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view through the preferred embodiment of my invention in position in an opening" in the container wall.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the diaphragm disclosing theslot therein affording an o ening for the release of a compression within the container. .i

Figure 3 is a view'sim ilar to Figure 2 with the diaphragm in its normal position affording a closure for the container, and

Figure 4 is a view'similar to Figures 2 and 3 and with the diaphragm in a position to afford a relief for a vacuum withinthe container.

Referring more particularly to the several views of the drawmgs wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 indicates a container wall formed with an opening 2 in which is positioned a plug or base 3 preferably formed with an annular securing flange 4 resting against the wall of the opening 2. Extending through the plug or base 3 is a vent 5 formed at its lower end with a circular depression 6. Se-

cured over the inner end of the plug or base 3 is a cupped diaphragm 7 of flexible stretchable material such as rubber, and the same is preferably secured in position by a'tie or band 8 extending around the flange 9 thereof and forcing the inner surface of the flange.

to be seated within an annular groove 10 in the plug or base 3. The diaphragm overlies the depression 6, and is formed preferably in line with the vent 5 with a slot or cut portion 11, the opposite meeting edges of which are adapted to contact when the diaphragm is in its normal plane, as indicated in Figure 3, said diaphragm then affording a closure for the vent. On the creation of a pressure from any source within the container which exceeds atmospheric ressure, the portion of the diaphragm overying the depression 6 will be distorted or stretched by being forced inwardly into said depression 6, as indicated by the numeral 12, which action will cause a separation of the side walls of the cut or slot 11 affording a relief through the slot and the vent 5 for the pressure within the container. When this pressure is relieved, the flexibility of the diaphragm causes the same to assume its, normal plane, as in Figure 3. On the creation of a vacuum within the container, at pressure is created against the diaphragm drawing the central portion thereof inwardly and again causing a separation of the side edges of the slot or cut portion 11 affording a-means for the relief, of the vacuum through the slot and vent 5 and after such relief is afforded, the diaphragm again assumes its normal position.,as in Figure 3.

By my present invention,-it will be observed that the diaphragm normally seals the container vent, and is adapted for operation by a variation of pressure within the container to maintain the normal pressure within the container substantially atmospheric. a t r Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is E- 1. A container vent and closure compris-- ing a base for securing over a container wall and provided with a vent extending therethrough and formed with a depression at the inner end of said vent, and a flexible diaphragm of stretchable material secured to the inner end of said base and overlying said depression, said diaphragm being cut at a point overlying said base.

2. A container vent and closure comprising a flexible diaphragm of stretchable material for positioning over the inner end of a container vent, said diaphragm being formed with a slot at a point overlying the inner end of said vent, the meeting edges of which are normally in contact affording a closure for the container when said diaphragm is in its normal plane, said diaphragm adapted for distortion to either side of its normal plane by a variation of pressure within the container for causing a separation of the meeting edges of said slot whereby a relief for the container pressure is afforded.

3. A container vent and closure comprising a flexible diaphragm of stretchable material for positioning over the inner end of a container vent, said diaphragm being formed with a slot at a point overlying the inner end of said vent, the meeting edges of which are normally in contact affording aclosure for the container when said diaphragm is in its normal plane, said diaphragm adapted for distortion from its normal plane by a variation of pressure within the container for causing a separation of the meeting edges of said slot whereby an opening for the container is afforded.

4. A container vent and closure comprising a base for securing over an opening in a phragm being provided with a slot in line with said vent opening. the edges of which are normally in contact when the diaphragm is in itsnormal plane affording a closure for the container, said diaphragm' adapted for movement to one side of its normal planeinto said depression by a variation of pressure within. the container whereby said diaphragm is stretched separating the meeting edgesof said slot affording a relief for the container pressure.

5. A container vent and closure comprising a base for securing over an opening in a container wall and provided with a vent extending therethrough, said base provided with a depression in its inner face at the inner end of said vent, and a flexible rubber diaphragm secured over the inner face of said base in contact therewith. said diaphragm being provided with a slot in line with said vent opening. the edges of which are normally in contact when the diaphragm is in its normal plane affording a closure for the container, said diaphragm adapted for movement to opposite sides of its normal plane by a variation of pressure within the container whereby the said diaphragm is stretched separating the meeting edges of said slot affording a relief for the container pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

AUGUST SCHILLING. 

